Follow Up Boss vs LionDesk: One of Them Is Dead
If you're still weighing Follow Up Boss vs LionDesk, here's the short version: LionDesk is dead. Lone Wolf Technologies confirmed in May 2025 that the platform was being shut down. Operations continued through September 2025 to give users a migration window, and CEO Jimmy Kelly said LionDesk had technical limitations that didn't fit Lone Wolf's long-term product vision.
This isn't a comparison anymore. It's a migration guide.
30-Second Verdict
Use Follow Up Boss if you want a real estate CRM that's actively developed, integrates with 250+ tools, and offers phone and email support seven days a week. ZDNET named it best overall real estate CRM; HousingWire tagged it best value for agents and teams. FUB offers a 14-day free trial to test the fit.
Skip LionDesk. It's discontinued. Full stop.
Pricing Breakdown
LionDesk was always the budget play. Here's what it cost before the shutdown:
| LionDesk Starter | LionDesk Pro+ | LionDesk Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $30 | $49 | $99 |
| Texts/mo | 500 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
| Emails/mo | 2,000 | 7,500 | 15,000 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued |
And here's what's still alive:
| FUB Grow | FUB Pro | FUB Platform | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $69/user | $499 (10 users) | $1,000 (30 users) |
| Annual | $58/user | $416/mo | $833/mo |
| Emails | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Status | Active | Active | Active |
LionDesk's caps on emails and texts were a constant friction point - a solo agent on Starter could blow through 2,000 emails in a single drip campaign. FUB doesn't cap emails at all, and the calling add-on runs $39/user/mo. For context, Lone Wolf Relationships (LionDesk's official successor) starts at $33.25/month if you want the cheapest migration path.
Features That Matter
LionDesk's video texting was a standout feature. With the platform gone, that's no longer a reason to choose it.
Texting more broadly was LionDesk's supposed strength, yet it became a mess toward the end. One agent on r/realtors described the frustration of needing a separate EZ Texting subscription just to keep drip texting functional - a paid workaround for a feature that should've worked out of the box. FUB handles texting natively: group texts, autoresponders, templates, no third-party bolt-ons required. Its Action Plans combine tasks, emails, and texts into sequences that actually run reliably, which is more than LionDesk could claim in its final year.
Where FUB pulls ahead hardest is integrations and team management. It connects with 250+ real estate tools - lead sources, dialers, transaction management platforms - and lead routing supports round robin, first-to-claim, and lead ponds built for team accountability. For solo agents this might feel like overkill, but the moment you add a second person to your operation, these features pay for themselves fast.
Switching CRMs without cleaning your data is like moving into a new house and bringing the cockroaches. Prospeo's CSV enrichment verifies emails at 98% accuracy and returns 50+ data points per contact - so you only import real, deliverable records into Follow Up Boss.
Clean your LionDesk export before it tanks your new CRM's deliverability.
What Users Say
The Capterra head-to-head tells the story:
| Follow Up Boss | LionDesk | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5/5 (57 reviews) | 4.1/5 (95 reviews) | FUB |
| Ease of Use | 4.5 | 3.9 | FUB |
| Customer Service | 4.4 | 3.6 | FUB (by a mile) |
| Functionality | 4.3 | 4.1 | FUB |
| Value for Money | 4.2 | 4.1 | FUB |
FUB also holds a 4.6/5 on G2 across 115 reviews. That customer service gap - 4.4 vs 3.6 - matters most during a migration. One Capterra reviewer called LionDesk's support "a complete joke." Another described a broadcast text that sent "12 times an hour" during a system glitch, with leads begging "Make it stop!"
We've seen agents tolerate a lot from cheap software. But when the platform you're trusting with client relationships can't even stop a runaway text loop, the price difference stops mattering.
What About Lone Wolf Relationships?
Lone Wolf Relationships is the official successor, starting at $33.25/month. Lone Wolf published an official migration guide in July 2025, and HousingWire tagged it "Best for AI-powered email marketing on a budget."
Their scale is real - 9,000+ brokerages, 1.5 million agents. But if you want the deeper integration ecosystem and team features, Follow Up Boss is the stronger long-term bet. Budget-conscious solo agents should also look at Wise Agent at $41.58/month (and compare Wise Agent alternatives if you want more options).
Your Migration Checklist
Every LionDesk user reading this needs a concrete plan. Here's what to do this week:
- Export your contacts from LionDesk as CSV before access disappears entirely.
- Verify your data before importing it anywhere. Years-old emails bounce. Phone numbers disconnect. Importing garbage into a fresh CRM is like moving into a new house and bringing the cockroaches with you. Run your CSV through Prospeo's enrichment tool - with 98% email accuracy and a 7-day data refresh cycle, it catches dead contacts before they tank your deliverability.
- Start a Follow Up Boss 14-day trial and test Action Plans, lead routing, and the mobile app against your actual workflow.
- Import clean contacts and set up your drip sequences from day one (use proven sales follow-up templates if you need copy fast).
Let's be honest: most agents lose more money from bounced emails and disconnected numbers than they'd ever save picking the cheapest CRM. In our experience, the migration window is exactly when data quality problems surface - and when they're cheapest to fix.
If you're evaluating other platforms while you move, it helps to sanity-check what counts as a CRM in the first place (see examples of a CRM) and what "good" looks like for keeping your database organized (see contact management software).
Years of LionDesk contacts mean years of decay - bounced emails, disconnected numbers, job changes. Prospeo refreshes data every 7 days (not 6 weeks like other providers) and catches dead contacts at ~$0.01/email. 92% match rate on CSV enrichment means almost every record comes back verified.
Stop importing dead leads into a fresh CRM. Verify first.
FAQ
Is LionDesk actually shutting down?
Yes. Lone Wolf confirmed in May 2025 that LionDesk is discontinued. The platform stayed operational through September 2025 for migration purposes. If you're still on LionDesk, your data access window is closing - export and move now.
Can I port my LionDesk phone number to Follow Up Boss?
LionDesk's support was unclear on number porting even before the shutdown. Contact Follow Up Boss directly during their 14-day free trial - their onboarding team handles competing CRM migrations regularly and can confirm porting options within 24 hours.
How much does Follow Up Boss cost for a single agent?
The Grow plan is $69/user/month, or $58/user/month on annual billing. Both include unlimited emails. The calling add-on is $39/user/month extra ($33 on annual billing).
How do I clean my contact list before migrating?
Export your LionDesk contacts as CSV, then run the file through a verification tool like Prospeo. Its CSV enrichment returns 50+ data points per contact at a 92% match rate, flagging invalid emails and disconnected numbers so you only import clean, deliverable records into your new CRM.